London rickshaw driver accused of raping lesbian

The trial at the Old Bailey continues

A rickshaw driver in London has been accused of raping a lesbian doctor.

Murat Durmus, 23, of Walthamstow, denies rape and claims they had consensual sex.

The Old Bailey heard that the woman and a male friend had been drinking in bars in Soho in the early hours of February 5th and were unable to find a black cab to take them to their homes in Tower Bridge.

Instead, they caught a rickshaw near Tottenham Court Road and the woman’s friend was dropped off first.

Prosecutor Lisa Matthews told the court that the woman did not clearly remember what had happened but recalled crying and saying ‘no’. She said she believes she was attacked in the rickshaw.

She was able to give police a description of the driver and Mr Durmus was arrested two weeks later. His DNA was matched to evidence.

Mr Durmus claims that she initiated sex with him.

Ms Matthews said that the woman, in her twenties, was not out to her family but had been forced to reveal her sexuality when telling them about her ordeal.